Martial Arts Ain't Anything Special-Chapter 99: I Won’t Die (1)

Geom Yeong of the Sword School Sect.

He encountered the incident right after arriving in Shanxi as reinforcement. He had no particular thoughts. If there was an enemy, he would simply cut them down.

Having cut out his own eyes to walk the path of the sword, he perceived the world entirely through qi detection.

Then at some point, he felt qi detection alone was insufficient. So he realized a method himself and named it the Void Perception Art.

The technique itself spread inner qi of a specific frequency to detect all things, allowing him to see a wider world than could be seen with two mere eyes. Geom Yeong had never felt his vision lacking.

What is this...

That’s why the current situation was so confusing. The last thing Geom Yeong saw was a man flicking his finger before his vision faded to black.

Despite his confusion, he used his remaining senses to substitute for vision.

The wind touching his skin, the opponent’s scent, the metallic taste lingering on his tongue, the faint sound of air being cut.

Combining all of these into one together with his sixth sense, he frantically twisted his body.

WHOOSH──────────

Chills ran down his spine. If he hadn’t dodged, he would have died just now.

Geom Yeong continuously tried to regain his vision by spreading his inner qi, but it was of no use.

He could only desperately twist and turn, relying on his remaining senses.

The injuries accumulated but by some stroke of luck, none were fatal.

In the next instant, light returned to his eyes.

“Huh...!”

His other senses, which had been honed to a razor’s edge, momentarily dulled.

Geom Yeong hurriedly searched for the man, but he wasn’t there.

Has he retreated?

It was a brief question because instinctual alarm bells soon set off.

The man’s figure flashed in his Void Perception Art. It was close to a miracle. His potential had manifested in the face of death.

But it was too late. The man was already right in front of him.

“No...!”

Slash!

In place of the searing pain, one arm felt empty, like nothing was there. Yin qi invaded the wound and his body froze for a moment.

He sensed the end. In a few more seconds, his head would fall.

However, the man clicked his tongue softly and stepped back.

“You’re lucky. See you next time.”

With that, the man’s figure disappeared once more. Completely.

Geom Yeong realized he could never capture the man in his vision.

Not just in this moment, but somewhere he could never reach. The image of that man which appeared for only a fleeting moment in his Void Perception Art was something... indescribable...

“The martial world is truly vast...”

Geom Yeong threw away his sword and staggered forward.

Even he didn’t know where he was going. Just somewhere no one’s footsteps would reach. Forward, forward.

Later, there was a small commotion when a master of the Sword School Sect suddenly went into seclusion.

*Five Elements, Earth, Release.

Seojun flew like a ray of light, adding his light body art to the surging earth’s power.

He briefly reviewed the recent battle.

Not bad.

A master who substituted vision with qi detection.

He had identified that method and counteracted the waves the master produced, thus depriving his opponent of vision.

By momentarily restoring his sight to create confusion, he dissolved into the waves and hid himself, launching a surprise attack.

It was truly Stealth Seojun.

If there was one regret, it would be not finishing him off.

However, he had no choice, as lingering would have meant being caught by other pursuing Transcendent Realm experts.

Regardless he had also gained from it so he wasn’t too disappointed.

Not being detected by qi sense...

If he explored this a bit more, he might develop a decent Shadow Concealment Technique.

“You’re back? That was quick... Whaaaat!?”

Seojun snagged Jang Geuk mid-run and flew rapidly.

Jang Geuk was terrified by the speed he had never experienced before.

“W-Wait...! My Lord! No, hold on...! Aaaaah...!”

Aaaaaaaaaah────────

With that drawn-out scream, Seojun quickly returned to the main force.

He immediately met with Namgung Changhwi and reported his results.

“I killed quite a few, and there was also a Transcendent Realm expert I hadn’t heard of?”

“Another Transcendent Realm expert? That was a close call... Thank heavens you returned safely.”

“It wasn’t that dangerous.”

As Seojun waved his hand and described the blind swordsman, Namgung Changhwi’s eyes widened.

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“Geom Yeong...! A renowned sword master even among Transcendent Realm experts. You said you cut off one of his arms?”

“Yes. I’m guessing he probably can’t fight too well right now?”

“You’ve done a great accomplishment...”

After praising Seojun politely, Namgung Changhwi continued his serious deliberation.

“To send even Geom Yeong... While pushing them back once is encouraging, the situation is not all good news.”

“Really? Isn’t it good that they retreated?”

“Not entirely. If they sent even Geom Yeong, it means the Black Serpent side considers this battlefield quite important, which means they will not give up so easily.”

“Wouldn’t they withdraw after taking losses?”

“Well...”

Namgung Changhwi irritably scratched his neck and sighed.

“Well, there’s no point worrying about it now. Anyway, while you were out on the mission, we sent a carrier pigeon to the Murim Alliance. Other martial artists should arrive soon, and we just need to hold out until then.”

“You only requested support now?”

Seojun scratched his head. For a moment he almost doubted the man’s intelligence but restrained himself. He believed someone from the Great Namgung Clan couldn’t be that foolish.

Fortunately, Namgung Changhwi shook his head.

“We have been sending requests constantly. You came after receiving such a message, did you not? This latest one details the changed situation. However, I’m not certain if it arrived properly. The Black Serpent might have shot down the carrier pigeon. The best case scenario is that the Murim Alliance anticipated the situation and has already dispatched reinforcements.”

“That’s... true.”

“For now, we may only pray the enemy does not do anything preposterous. In any case, thank you for your hard work.”

Namgung Changhwi made the fist-palm salute. He looked carefully into Seojun’s eyes and continued.

“Setting aside physical fatigue, you must have accumulated considerable mental fatigue. Please rest well without any worries for a while.”

Seojun returned the salute.

“Okay.”

*Seojun looked around after leaving the tent.

Aside from Jang Geuk, he was puzzled by not seeing Ji-baek.

What’s he doing that I can’t see him?

As Seojun walked around the base, he eventually found him in a corner.

He was sitting on a relatively flat rock, continuously chanting something. Probably Buddhist scriptures.

“What are you doing?”

“Ah, welcome.”

Ji-baek opened his eyes and looked at Seojun, his lifeless eyes staring blankly before turning back to empty space.

“This humble monk was reflecting on how he has grown soft in times of peace. In my youth, I seemed to live more vigorously, but with age, I’ve become like this.”

After watching Ji-baek for a moment, Seojun sat down casually on the dirt.

“Is it difficult?”

“Amitabha... This humble monk has no right to complain about hardships.”

“Hey now, why beat around the bush about your struggles...”

Scratching his cheek, Seojun looked quietly at Ji-baek.

Despite being a Transcendent Realm expert, his deflated appearance resembled that of an ordinary old man.

His tired-looking eyes were cloudy, and his aged back was hunched.

Under Seojun’s gaze, Ji-baek, who had been silently rolling his prayer beads, suddenly spoke.

“I fear the cycle of rebirth after death. I’ve spilled too much blood and taken far too many lives to earn the merit of being reborn as human again. While I should live virtuously and devote myself to the Dao, the war looming before me is so unbearably horrific that I cannot bear to look at it directly.”

“War sure is... something, isn’t it?”

“Amitabha... After all this time, I mustn’t be confused about what is right and what is wrong, and yet I seem to be wandering down an unnecessarily long path.”

Ji-baek exhaled a long breath. Watching him, Seojun stood up.

“I don’t practice the Dao, so I’m not sure...”

Seojun lightly patted his shoulder and walked away as usual.

“But well, hang in there, old man. You must have recited countless sutras over the years, so surely the answer must already be within you.”

Even long after Seojun had left, Ji Baek remained silent before quietly murmuring.

“Indeed... Buddha is within me...”

He rolled his prayer beads and recited sutras as always.

Even knowing this, finding the answer was still not easy.

*Was I meddling unnecessarily?

In truth, Ji-baek probably knew much more than Seojun.

Having lived several times longer, how much more would he have read and experienced?

In the end, the comfort Seojun offered was just the obvious answer of ‘figure it out yourself.’

“These guys, seriously.”

What kind of war is this? What on earth are they trying to accomplish? Clicking his tongue needlessly, Seojun looked off into the distance.

Then he gaped blankly.

“Wait a fucking second.”

A colossal, imposing presence approached—not merely a person, but as if the fabric of space itself were advancing.

It was somewhat familiar to Seojun.

Unrestrained Realm?

Looking up at the sudden situation, he saw a young man watching him from midair.

“You’re quite perceptive.”

“Isn’t this a bit too random for you to pop up?”

“I can’t exactly move openly, can I? Do you know how many people would come rushing if they knew I left my post?”

“But why the hell did you come here, for fuck’s sake?”

“Such foul language from someone so young.”

“I could kill your parents right now so would you consider just leaving?”

“My parents were used as sacrifices for human offerings long ago. There’s nothing left for you to do.”

“Oh, wow...”

Seojun scratched his head as the young man raised his hand.

“Well, as I’m in quite a predicament, so don’t resent me.”

“Oh for crying out loud, give me a break.”

The nature qi around the young man’s hand completely twisted.

Sorcery? Martial art? It was difficult to tell.

Aware of the growing chaos around him, Seojun drew his sword.

“Just my luck, this is fucking ridiculous.”

Can I win? His lips curled up, feeling oddly exhilarated from that thought.

And at that moment, an uninvited guest burst in.

“Qilian Sect Leader!”

A mass of muscle, closer to a gorilla than a human flew in, swinging their fist.

A bare fist. Not even with fist force, let alone fist qi—just a bare fist.

The young man clicked his tongue and brought down his raised hand. Space itself swirled, engulfing the muscular man.

Yet the punch still connected.

CRACK────────!!

With one seemingly ordinary punch, space shattered.

Seojun stared blankly at it before who that man was.

The Fist King.

So a bare fist really can be stronger than reinforced qi.

Boom!

With another wave of his hand, the Qilian Sect Leader sent the wild Fist King flying.

He’s not quite at the Unrestrained Realm level yet?

To make matters worse, several presences were rapidly approaching from a distance. Three Transcendent Realm experts were mixed in. It would be good if they were allies, but unfortunately, they were Black Serpent friends.

“Hmm. Objectively speaking, this looks fucking doomed.”

Seojun smiled brightly.

“Whatever, bring it on you bastards!”

What else is there to do but die?